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In April this year, a Skegness trader who sold counterfeit Adidas, Nike, Converse, Lacoste and Fred Perry clothing was jailed for six months.

Ranbir Singh Dhanoa, 69, was found to be selling the items from his stall on Eastgate Market in Ingoldmells following a Trading Standards investigation in June, 2016.

That month, we also revealed Mohammed Asif, who owned a stall in Eastgate Market in Ingoldmells, was found with 96 purses and handbags and an additional 86 badges, used to attach to plain items, at the market in September, 2017.

The counterfeit items included Versace and Ted Baker purses and Michael Kors handbags.

In February, we also revealed Amanpreet Singh was trading at Eastgate Market at Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells when Trading Standard officers carried out a search of 331 stalls.

Singh’s property was searched and 1,403 items of counterfeit clothing were seized.

And in October, hundreds of counterfeit goods being sold at a market were seized by Trading Standards.

In May, Trading Standards issued advice to Lincolnshire Live on what to look out for at markets.

This is what it said:

So what do we need to be looking out for when visiting a market?

The four Ps…

PLACE – You wouldn’t expect legitimate Chanel and Louis Vuitton to be sold on a market stall.

PRICE – a genuine polo shirt would cost £50 to £100. If there’s three for £10, that’s an indication.

PACKAGING – if there’s trainers in an unbranded box or a brand in the same style of packaging as another item, watch out.

PRODUCT – this is the product itself. Things such as a care label. A genuine Adidas or Nike t-shirt will have several tags in different languages, whereas a counterfeit one may just have one.

“If it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” said Mr Keal.

“That’s the sort of motto we live by. Unfortunately, the deals people are being offered are significantly less than a normal retailer. It does raise questions.”

Why do traders do it?

He said: “I think sometimes it can be just ignorance and sometimes it’s just the financial reward that outweighs the risk and penalty.

“Particularly at a market which trades seven days a week with a massive input of people, that’s a temptation I am sure. Financial gain is the main reason I suspect.”

What can someone do if they’re not sure about the legitimacy of an item?

Mr Keal says if you’re not sure, don’t buy it.

“The trouble is you’re never quite sure what you’re getting,” he said.

“Toys and perfumes - there can be health and safety issues.

“If you buy a t-shirt, it won’t last. When you wash it, it will go out of shape and the quality is not up to the genuine product. Some appreciate that with what they are buying and some don’t realise until they get it back and it doesn’t present as it should be.